Category Archives: crafts

As Seen on TV, crafts, Holidays, kids, Tips

Personalized Easter Baskets

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(Welcome Central Valley Today viewers! These are the details of my spot today!)

This is such an easy project that I feel kind of guilty devoting a post to it. I mean if it is something I can easily do anyone can. It doesn’t have to be perfect, I mean mine aren’t.

And full disclosure, these here in the picture aren’t mine. I couldn’t get a picture of the ones I did for my older two children without getting their names in the picture. These were done by my friend Angie for our church when my last two were born. And she decorated all sides of the buckets, I didn’t;). And hers are cuter than mine but my kids love the ones I did!

Ok, the main idea behind these personalized buckets is that you don’t have 10 million cheap baskets around the house that won’t hold anything and have to be replaced every year. With  personalized buckets you have 2 choices. The kids can use them all year round to transport their things and decorate their rooms. The other option, and the one we use, is we pack them away after Easter just like you do stockings. Then pull them out and use them year after year. The ones I made are 8 years old already and still look pretty good.

The first thing to do is pick the right bucket! I picked awesome paint buckets when I did this eight years ago. They are shallow but huge! I had to get something smaller for my kids to use for egg hunting for the next couple of years. #MomFail Pick a bucket that fits the kid you are getting it for. While it looks cute to see a child lug around a bucket that is 2/3 their height, they find it very frustrating. Same thing with picking baskets that are to wide. Then they just turn and accidentally dump out everything. That makes kids not want to find all the eggs!

Now that we found the bucket we are ready to go! Wipe down the bucket with a baby wipe or cleaning wipe and let it dry completely. Then you just take your paint pens and go at it! If you want you can use templates too. They can help with basic shapes but you probably won’t get anything to detailed with the templates.  Let is dry for an hour or two and you can use it! I like to let them cure for a day but it isn’t really needed.

And seriously, that is it! Now fill it with goodies or take it egg hunting! Make sure if you are egg hunting though you are looking for my perfect Easter eggs!  Your kids will feel so special and you spent as little as $1 on the bucket! Such a deal!

Happy Easter!

 

crafts, kids, NerdPud, Tales of the Nerdlings

Write About Us, Mommy!

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This morning I was sitting with my 4 year old while my older 3 were in dance class. See the older 3 take Irish Dance every Monday morning. I take a little job for me, this week sorting out expired coupons. The baby (Yes, I understand she is 4 but she is still my baby;) takes her Pocket V-Smile, a book and a snack. It is a great opportunity to some time all alone with her every week.

So this week she and I were talking about what we were going to do when we got home. She wanted to play on the computer while the older 3 did homework. I said I was going to work on my computer and blogs. I asked her what I should write about today. She replied, “Us. Write about us, mommy!”. So I asked her is she meant her and her siblings and nope. She meant her and I.

She wanted me to write about postcards. When I asked who we should make postcards for she kind of surprised me. She wanted me to tell everyone that Mommies should make and give postcards to their kids. When I asked why she said, “Because you love me, silly mommy.”

So all of you mommies out there. Make a card or note and give it to your kids! Just because you love them!!!

PS. Yes, it won’t be long before NerdPud has a blog all her own;).

crafts, Holidays, kids

Halloween Vent

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Halloween is coming and the idea of it is overwhelming me!!!

I am not a big fan of just buying costumes but everything else takes so much time!!! We could do a Star Wars theme because we have a few outfits in the dress up bin but there are a lot of other options.

A couple of months ago the kids were talking about doing a Marvel theme set. Specifically there was a lot of talk about Nerdster being Electro with some pipe cleaners coming off for electricity.

Then there is also the option of doing the Roman/Greek thing that we are studying in history. The boys could make armor and the girls could make some great clothing.

Or we could do a solar system type thing. All in black and then building out different planets.

Ugh! Not only are there a lot of choices but many of those choices are a lot of work too!

What are you doing for Halloween? Do you even care to know yet;)? It is over a month away! But if you are making something, that isn’t enough time!!!

crafts, TOS Crew

Puppetools Review

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I got the opportunity to evaluate Puppetools. Their mission is:

OUR MISSION is to open the door to sweeping change in education by advancing the principle of play in teaching and learning. The world still looks to America for inventive social, economic, and technological solutions. Once, America’s gift to itself –and to the world–was a bold new experiment in political freedom. America’s next gift–again for itself and for the world– can and must be a bold new leap in education.

Due to my creativity deficiency, I am always excited to try any thing that will help me out in the arts ‘n’ craft arena. This site focuses on the creation of hand puppets. It has a patent pending base and then downloadable templates that you can use to create a variety of puppets. There are also forums and opportunities to see what others are doing with puppets. There is also different things offered to give ideas on how to use puppets.

This site has a couple of different membership options. A year subscription is $99 and is good for up to 30 users. There is also a 60 day trial subscription for $20. With the trial you will have full access.

So my recommendation? For a homeschooling mom or small enterprise? If you really want puppet help, I would do the 60 day subscription and be prepared to look at everything during that time. I think you can fully take advantage of the program with in that time. On the whole it is ok. I do think you could find these resources cheaper but they are all here in one spot and that counts for something.

Go look at the site and let me know what you think!

crafts, gift worthy

Cool Crafty Rocket

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The Bear Necessities has made the coolest knit rocket ship. This would make a great gift for a one year old, if you happen to be crafty (hint, hint for any of you knitters who would like to get the NerdPud something for her impending birthday;). This grew out of Lucy’s desire to make something for her son’s room and now the blogosphere can benefit. Just go over to her blog, The Bear Necessities, and follow the pattern she has put up. I really need to learn how to knit!

Technorati Tags: Knitting, Crafting, Rocket Ships